As the fourth-largest continent in the world, South America encompasses twelve countries, including Peru, Patagonia, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. It is one of the most linguistically diverse regions in the world, with 450 recognized languages.
Visiting beautiful South America means immersion in rich cultures and access to abundant and breathtaking natural wonders. Striking landscapes and bustling, vibrant cities are both options and even within the same trip, making South America the ideal go-to location for incentive trip vacations.
Why Provide Incentive Trips at Your Company?
Before looking at some key locations or the best destinations for incentive trips to consider when planning employee incentive trip vacations (in South America), it’s helpful to consider the pros and cons of incentive trips. These trips create great team relationships and provide a substantive goal to work towards. It can even provide a measure of healthy competition among employees who are all trying to achieve the goal of an incentive trip.
This, in turn, will often boost productivity and creativity among employees. Therefore, the idea behind providing incentive trips is sound. The next step is choosing the location to send employees or business associates as a reward, which is South American destinations.
Top Incentive Trip Destinations in South America
Bogota, Columbia
This destination has been awarded the “Best Leading Business Destination in South America” for 2024 by the World Travel Awards. This award reinforces the fact that Columbia’s capital city, Bogota, is a preferred destination for events, meetings, and doing business.
It is considered one of the most popular cities in Latin America thanks to its unique experiences, cultural history, and commitment to art and fashion. Bogota is a melting pot city, thanks to the variety of cultures living within its borders. When moving here, residents bring their own cultural influences and rich traditions, which make it an ideal destination to visit to get a real taste of South America.
The cultural mixture and appreciation are particularly noticeable within the city’s nightlife scene. Music has come from the Pacific and Caribbean coasts and everywhere in between to create a mod podge of options. This means that visitors to Bogota can enjoy a range of venues and nightlife experiences, including everything from three-story clubs to basement bars.
The Monserrate cathedral, situated alongside Bogota’s Easter Hills, can be accessed from the city via a hiking trail, train, or cable car. This cathedral is a sacred place and is representative of the rich history of Bogota, and it is yet another reason to consider it as an incentive trip destination. The cathedral itself is something to behold, but the view of the city below and the surrounding area that is visible at this location makes the effort to visit it worthwhile.
At the city’s center is the lively Park 93. This park is located in the Chico neighborhood and is surrounded by coffee shops and fine restaurants. It is a busy location that frequently hosts concerts, shows, and fun events to enjoy. It is a lively and unique location that provides a place equally equipped to provide relaxation or a party.
When planning a Bogota incentive trip, be sure to check out the event schedule for many key events, like fashion week, art fairs, design events, and more.
Cusco & Machu Picchu, Peru
Although not awarded any specific business destination accolades, Cusco is a beautiful city with a rich and diverse history. It is the oldest inhabited city in the Western world, so Inca temples can be seen alongside more modern Spanish cathedrals. Cusco is also known as the gateway to one of the seven wonders of the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu.
This destination is the perfect incentive trip destination thanks to its perfect blend of modern culture with a rich history.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Brazil is a huge portion of the South American continent, and Rio De Janeiro is the country’s second-most populous city. Rio De Janeiro has a bit of everything to offer, from its soaring mountains to its stunning beaches. This means trips to Rio De Janeiro are ideal South America beach incentive trips.
There is an abundance of accommodation options, but the most luxurious is perhaps the Belmond Copacabana Palace. This unique location is a mere three-mile walk to the beach, and it is a great location to enjoy everything else Rio has to offer. Day trips when staying in Rio could include a variety of destinations like Sugarloaf and Tijuca National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the heart of Rio, the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Carmelo, Uruguay
Considered a hidden gem nestled between Argentina and Brazil, this region is the shining light of South America. This modern yet beautiful waterfront city features spectacular countryside and the Atlantic coast. There are accommodations in Uruguay ranging from a luxury spa experience, like the Carmelo Resort and Spa, to a wine lodge like the Nebona Wine Lodge by Relais and Chateaux.
There is no shortage of luxury hotels to choose from, which makes this a perfect destination for group incentive trips. Adventures in this area could include exploring the natural and unspoiled beauty of the area along with traversing the cobbled streets of the coastal town, including a visit to a 19th-century lighthouse boasting breathtaking views of the coastline.
Let Us Create The Perfect Incentive Trip
At MTI Events, we have over 30 years of experience in the industry. We are happy to help you plan your incentive trip to South America. Let us help you create a trip that will motivate employees to achieve their goals and show your employees and associates how much you value their contributions to your business.
Contact us today to learn more about how to get started planning an incentive trip vacation to any of the four locations outlined or the many, many other options within South America.
